Folder for binding and mailing compact discs

ABSTRACT

A folder for holding a compact disc in a position for binding the folder into a magazine is made from a single web of cardstock. The web is folded into two equal portions along a central foldline to form two opposing front and rear panels of the folder. A circular section is cut out of the front panel to display the condition of a compact disc held in the folder. The two panels are glued together to capture the compact disc therebetween and a line of weakening is applied to the panels along one marginal edge thereof to define a combined binding and tear strip. This strip may be edge bound in a magazine and the line of weakening is spaced apart from the edge so that the folder may be separated from the magazine along the tear strip.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.08/745,012, filed Nov. 7, 1996 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,605.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to compact disc folders, andmore particularly, to an improved, bindable compact disc folder that canbe easily bound into a publication, such as a magazine as well as mailedseparately.

Audio compact discs have become extremely popular with consumers overthe past years and their use by consumers in the recorded music industryhas surpassed that of prerecorded cassettes. Optically-readable compactdiscs are also rising in use and popularity in the computer softwareindustry as the preferred medium for computer programs and data. Bothaudio and optical compact discs (the latter being known in the industryas "CD-ROMS") are usually sold or distributed to consumers in the formof hinged plastic boxes known in the trade as "jewel cases". Theseplastic boxes hold the disc in place as well as printed informationabout the disc. These jewel cases are cumbersome, easily prone tobreakage and expensive to manufacture.

In the computer arts, many major computer-related magazines such asBYTE, PCWORLD and others, supply CD-ROMS to their subscribers withcertain magazine issues. In these issues, the CD-ROM is separatelypackaged, laid on top of the magazine and then the two items are bundledtogether in a plastic bag that encloses both the CD-ROM and themagazine. This type of packaging is expensive and in rough handling thatay occur in delivery of mail, the CD-ROM may break through the outerplastic bag and become lost.

Other magazines publish indexes and special editions on CD-ROM anddistribute them by holding the CD-ROM within a large, rigid cardboardfolder. These cardboard folders approximate the size and thickness ofthe magazine and thus are bulky and necessitate a separate mailing fromthe magazine.

The present invention is directed to a compact disc folder thatovercomes the aforementioned disadvantages and has a structure thatpermits it to easily and inexpensively be bound into a magazine as aninsert, thereby eliminating the cost of enclosing the magazine andcompact disc together with an exterior package to hold the compact discin place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one principal aspect, the present invention includes a compact discfolder formed from a web of durable paperboard in which the web isfolded along a foldline that divides the web into two opposing panels.One of the panels serves a rear panel for the folder while the otherpanel serves as a cover, or front panel, that overlies the rear panel. Acompact disc that has been protectively wrapped to provide a discassembly is applied to the rear panel within the folder by way of areleasable adhesive. The cover panel includes a die-cut opening alignedwith the compact disc to display it and the cover panel is adhered tothe rear panel along the marginal edges of the two panels by a permanentadhesive. The folder has a line of weakening applied to it along oneside thereof to define a perforated binding strip extending along themarginal edge of the holder. This binding strip is registered with andinserted between signatures of a publication so that the holder may bereadily and easily bound into a publication without the need forspecialized insert and binding machinery.

In another principal aspect of the present invention, the rear panel ofthe folder has one or more lines of weakening applied thereto inregistration with the compact disc to provide a tearable access flapthat extends at least partially around the compact disc and to which thecompact disc assembly is attached. The folder is further durable enoughto serve as an independent mailer for the compact disc.

In a third principal aspect of the present invention, the compact discfolder is formed from an elongated paper web in the form of a multi-pagesignature. The web has a width sufficiently great to provide multiplepages of the resulting folder so that instructional or installationinformation, or even advertising, may be printed on the signature. Theweb is folded upon itself, one or more times, and glued in selectedareas to form a booklet with two pages thereof adhered together to forma disc-receiving pocket. The compact disc assembly is applied to one ofthe two pages and the other page is applied thereover to enclose thecompact disc assembly. The pages of the booklet are folded around acommon foldline to define a common binding edge.

In another principal aspect of the present invention, one of the exposedpages of the signature booklet that overlies the compact disc assemblyis perforated to form an access flap to the disc-receiving pocket tothereby permit a user to easily open the disc-receiving pocket and gainaccess to the compact disc, without damaging the remainder of the pagesof the booklet.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved folder for a compact disc that is bindable into apublication.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bindable insertfolder for a compact disc having opposing, overlying first and secondpanels that share a common foldline, the panels including a common lineof weakening disposed along and spaced apart from a lengthwise marginaledge of the insert folder and the common foldline, the line of weakeningdefining a combined binding and tear strip of the insert holder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a folder for acompact disc having two opposing front and rear panels sharing a commonfoldline, the folder having a compact disc adhered to a central portionof the rear panel and a die-cut opening formed in the front panel inregistration with the front panel, the opening exposing to view, aportion of one surface of the compact disc, the front and rear panelsbeing joined together to define an envelope that encloses the compactdisc therebetween. The rear panel has one or more lines of weakeningaligned with the compact disc that define a tearable access flap on therear panel so that access may be had to the compact disc from exteriorof the folder.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bindablefolder for a compact disc in the form of a premade signature booklet inwhich two adjoining pages of the signature are adhered together to forma compact disc-receiving pocket that encloses a compact disc assembly,the signature booklet having a hard insert edge that permits thesignature booklet to be easily bound into a magazine or otherpublication without separating any of the pages thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pagebooklet, two pages of which cooperate to define an enclosure thatsecures a compact disc assembly in place within the booklet, theenclosure being surrounded on both sides thereof by additional pages ofthe booklet, the booklet being formed from a signature by folding andadhering page sections thereof onto each other to define a multi-pagesignature bindable into a publication.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be clearly understood through consideration of thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of the following detailed description reference will befrequently made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact disc folder constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention inserted inplace within a magazine;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the magazine and insert folderof FIG. 1 schematically showing the binding of the insert holder intothe magazine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the compact disc insert holder of FIG. 1 in anassembled state;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a web from which the insert older of FIG. 3 isformed shown in an opened state;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a compact disc carrier assembly used inthe compact disc insert folder of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an assembly line used inconstructing the compact disc insert holders of the present inventionshowing the application of the compact disc carrier assembly to the web;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the compact disc insert folder of FIG. 1after detachment from the magazine showing how access is gained to thecompact disc through the access flap;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bindablecompact disc folder in the form of a multi-page booklet constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the folder booklet displaying the pagesthereof in an open configuration;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a twelve-page signature used to form thebooklet of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the signature of FIG. 10 illustrating theinitial folding of the right-hand page section;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the signature of FIG. 10, illustrating thefinal folding and gluing of the right-hand page section;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the folded signature of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the folded signature of FIG. 12, illustratingthe initial folding of the left-hand page section;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the signature of FIG. 14, illustrating thefinal folding and gluing of the left-hand page section;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the folded, open signature of FIG. 15,illustrating the compact disc assembly glue applied to the signature inopposition to a perforated access flap;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the signature of FIG. 16, illustrating acompact disc assembly applied to the left exposed page and a pattern ofpermanent glue applied thereto;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the signature of FIG. 17, illustrating foldingover the right-hand exposed page of the booklet onto the left-handexposed page to form the final booklet; and,

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the completed signature of FIG. 18illustrating the perforated soft end edge of the booklet that frees thepages to open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a publication, illustrated as a magazine 10, intowhich is bound a compact disc folder 50 constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, themagazine 10 is formed from a plurality of individual signatures orsections 12, that are assembled together so that they have opposingspine and page edges 14, 16. The signatures 12 are aligned togetheralong their spine edges 14 and end portions 17 thereof are milled off,generally along a sectional line A--A shown in FIG. 2. The resultantmilled spine ends then cooperatively form a single spine 18 of themagazine 10. The milled spine ends are roughened and a hot melt adhesiveis then applied to the roughened spine 18 represented generally by "G"in FIG. 2. A magazine cover 20 is then applied to the collective spine18 and is folded over the signatures 12 and clamped in place until theadhesive sets.

The folder 50 of the present invention, as explained in detail below,provides a flat folder in which a compact disc 52 is held securely inplace between adjoining signatures 12. The folder 50 is formed from asingle blank, or web 54, of a durable paper, such as a cardstock. Therigidity of the folder 50 permits it to be fed into registration withthe signatures 12 by means of a shuttle feeder without fear of thecompact disc 52 coming loose within the folder 50 or moving in a mannerto upset the placement of the folder 50.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the folder 50 is seen to have a generallyrectangular configuration. The blank 54 includes a central foldline 56that divides the blank 54 into two planar sections, or panels 58, 60.One of the panels 60 forms a rear panel of the folder 50 that serves asa support for a compact disc assembly 80 and the other panel 58 definesa front panel of the folder 50 that serves as a cover for the folder 50and the enclosed disc assembly 80. The two panels 58, 60, are foldedabout the dividing foldline 56 so that the front cover panel 58 overliesthe rear base panel 60.

When the two panels 58, 60 are folded onto each other in that fashion,as shown in FIG. 4, the resulting folder 50 will include two opposingtop and bottom edges 62, 64 that are interconnected together by twoopposing side edges 66, 68. The left side edge 66 is the binding edge ofthe folder 50 that is aligned with the spines 14 of the signatures 12when the folder 50 is inserted into the magazine during the bindingprocess. The left side edge 66 is a "hard" edge, that is, it coincideswith the center foldline 56 of the folder 50 rather than constitute twoseparate panels that may be separated at a "soft" edge. Thus, folders 50of the present invention may be inserted into magazines and otherpublications with a conventional gripper mechanism, shown in phantom inFIG. 2 as a gripping wheel 22. The end of the side edge 66 of the folder50 is also slightly milled when the signatures 12 are milled. The sideedge 66 has glue applied thereto during the binding process.

As explained below, during the assembly process, the folder 50 has aline of weakening 70 formed by perforations disposed in the folder 50that is spaced apart a predetermined distance W (FIG. 3) from the folderside edge 66. This line of weakening 70 in the completed folder 50 isformed by perforating the two folder panels 58, 60 in a single step in alocation near the left, or inner side edge 66, of the folder 50 so thatwere the folder 50 to be unfolded as shown in FIG. 4, the perforations70 will lie on opposite sides of the center foldline 56.

This line of weakening 70 is important to the present invention inasmuchas it defines on one side thereof, a marginal tear strip 72 of width Wthat is bound into the magazine 10 between the signatures 12 and, on theother side thereof, a body portion 69 of the folder 50. The tear strip72 is bound into the magazine 10 and its line of weakening 70 extendsout from the spine 18 of the magazine 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Thispermits a purchaser of the magazine to easily tear the folder bodyportion 69 away from the tear strip 72 that is bound into the magazine10.

The folder 50 contains a compact disc assembly 80 that includes a planarpaperboard base portion 82, a compact disc 52 supported on one surface83 of the base portion 82 and an outerwrap, or covering 84, formed froma pliable, and preferably transparent material such as a plastic film.The film may be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or anyother suitable drawn or laminated flexible plastic. The compact disc 52may be conveniently shrink-wrapped with this flexible packaging media inplace on the base portion 82 by the covering 84 so that the packagingmedia entirely encompasses the compact disc 52 and the base portion. Thebase portion 82 preferably has dimensions that give it an area that islarger than the compact disc 52 so that it may accommodate the compactdisc 52 well within the perimeter 86 of the base portion 82 in order toreduce the likelihood of interference with the outer edges 53 of thecompact disc 52 with a disc assembly placement apparatus 100,illustrated in FIG. 6.

Once assembled, the compact disc assembly 80 is applied to the interiorsurface 61 of the rear panel and held thereon by way of a releasableadhesive 88 deposited thereon in a suitable predetermined pattern, shownas multiple lines forming a square 89, although the adhesive 88 may bearranged in any pattern of sufficient area to reliably retain the discassembly 80 in place. The releasable adhesive 88 is preferably depositedon the rear panel interior surface 61 in registration with an accessflap 90 that is formed in the rear panel 60 of the folder 50.

Two or more lines of a permanent adhesive 74 may be applied to eitherone or both of the panels of the folder 50, illustrated in FIG. 4 as theinterior of the rear panel 60. The adhesive 74 is applied near the topand bottom side edges 62, 64 and the right side edge 68 of the folder50. Although illustrated in FIG. 4 as evenly spaced lines of permanentadhesive 74 near the edges of the folder 50, it will be understood thatthe permanent adhesive may be applied in a random pattern. It ispreferred that the permanent adhesive 74 be applied at least near theright side edge 68 of the folder to prevent an unauthorized user fromaccessing the compact disc 52 while the folder is in a publication 10.

When the cover panel 58 is folded onto the rear panel 60 and intocontact with the permanent adhesive 74 to, in effect, form an interiordisc-receiving pocket 76 (FIG. 7) that contains the disc assembly 80.The rear panel 60 includes an access flap foldline 94 formed thereinextends generally parallel to the web center foldline 56 and the line ofweakening 70. Two lines of rough perforations 92 extend from the accessflap foldline 94 to define the sides of the access flap. A third set ofperforations 93, preferably finer than the first set of perforations 92,interconnects the rough perforations 92 to define the access end 96 ofthe access flap 90 that is separable from the second panel 60.

Midway through these perforations 93, a semicircular finger tab 97 maybe formed from either the fine perforations 93 or from a straightdie-cut. This tab 97 may be raised by a user from the exterior surface63 of the rear panel 60 to permit a user to slip a finger between thetwo panels 58, 60 at the access flap 90 in a manner so that the lines ofperforations 92, 93 break to free the access flap 90, thereby exposingthe disc assembly 80 to the user.

The user may then easily detach the disc assembly 80 and open itscovering 84 to free the disc 52 from the insert folder 50 in the mannershown in FIG. 7. The front panel 58 of the folder 50 may have adisc-viewing opening 73 formed thereon such as by die-cutting, punchingor any other suitable process. This opening 73 permits a subscriber toview the disc compact 52 from exterior of the folder 50. In this regard,the opening 73 preferably has a diameter D_(o) that is less than thediameter D_(d) of the compact disc 52 so that the compact disc 52 willnot work its way out of the folder 52 through the opening 73.

The present invention lends itself to reliable and simple automatedmanufacture utilizing an assembly line 99, or related, discrete assemblystations. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the blanks 54 may have theirfoldlines 56 formed thereon such as at an embossing station 102 anddie-cut at a cutting station 104 to provide the disc-viewing opening 72.The blank 54 is then further advanced to a disc assembly applicationstation 106. In this application station 106, a supply of discassemblies 80 are stacked in a vertical supply 108 supported above theblanks 54. Individual disc assemblies 80 are fed from the feed supply108 in serial order by a feed mechanism 110 onto its designated locationon the second panel 60 of the folder 50 in registration with the accessflap 90.

A pattern of releasable adhesive is applied to the blanks 54 in aconventional fashion such as by a patterned roller 112, or a sprayapparatus. The blanks 54 then each receive, in serial order, a singledisc assembly 80 to form a blank-disc assembly 114 that is advanced to apressing station 116. The pressing station 116 includes a pliable roller118 with a press pad 119 that impinges upon the compact disc assembly 80to press it into intimate contact with the blank second panel 60.

A permanent adhesive 74 that adheres the first and second panels 58, 60of the folder together is applied at a gluing station 120 such as by anapplication roller 122 prior to folding one of the two panels onto theother at a folding station 124 to form the folder 50 and its interiordisc-receiving pocket 76. After folding, the line of weakening 70 maythen be formed along the edge 66 of the folder 50 by a suitableperforating mechanism known in the art, or it may be applied at any timeprior thereto.

It will be understood that some of the steps or production, such asembossing and die-cutting, and even perforating may be done at remotestations and the present, embossed blanks may be then held in a supplyand fed serially to the disc assembly application station.

FIGS. 8-19 illustrate a second embodiment of a bindable disc folder 200constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.The general structure of this folder 200 is much the same as the folder50 of the first embodiment and both embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS.3 & 8, share a leftmost "hard" binding edge for insertion into amagazine or other publication. The folder 200 of the second embodimentis advantageously integrally formed within a multi-page paper signatureand the multiple pages permit the printing of additional informationthereon.

The signature 202 begins as an elongated, continuous paper web 204having a width w equivalent to the finished width of the publication 10and a length L that accommodates a preselected number of pages,illustrated as six page sections 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 and 210. Such aweb 204 will provide a signature with twelve base pages, taking intoaccount the fact that each of the single page sections 205-210 has twoavailable sides, or surfaces, for printing. Both the front surfaces(those facing out of the surface of the pages containing the drawingfigures) and the rear surfaces (those facing into the surface of thepages containing the drawing figures) may have information, graphics,advertising information etc. printed thereon by conventional printingpresses. Each of these page sections are folded in a known manner forsignature assembly.

Turning now to FIG. 10, a continuous web 204 is illustrated with anadhesive strip 212 applied to its upper surface 211, generally in thecenter of the web 204 so that it may hold one or more folds of thesignature together. The rightmost two page sections 209, 210 are foldedas a unit 213 around a first, rightmost foldline 214 so that thetwo-page section 209-210 will flank and adhere to the adhesive strip 212as illustrated in FIG. 13. Another strip of adhesive 216 is then appliedonto the reverse surface 217 of the two-page unit 213, and preferably inalignment with the first adhesive strip 212. The leftmost two pagesections 205, 206 are folded as a unit 219 around a second, leftmostfoldline 218 and onto the second adhesive strip 216, as illustrated inFIG. 15 to form an open signature assembly 220 with two exposed centerpages 221A, 221B.

The two exposed, open signature assembly pages 221A, 221B are combinedas explained in greater detail below to form a disc-receiving pocket 226that entirely encloses a compact disc assembly 232. The disc-receivingpocket 226 securely holds the compact disc assembly 232 within theassembled signature in a manner that will resist the compact discassembly 232 from piercing through the signature and in a manner thateliminates the need for enclosing the publication 10 with a protective,plastic covering as is used in the prior art.

The center of the open signature assembly 220 may be scored with a lineof perforations 228 for ease of folding one side of the signature ontothe other side prior to insertion into a publication. The compact discassembly 232 is firmly retained within the signature (and in thepublication into which it is inserted) and the signature takes the formof a multi-page booklet. It can be understood then that the folder 200has an increased number of printable surfaces than the folder 50 ofFIGS. 1-7 and these additional surfaces may be used for advertising, forsoftware installation instructions, for game and program instructions.The resulting effect is that the compact disc is effectively integratedinto an accompanying manual.

Returning now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 16, apattern 222 of releasable adhesive is applied to one of the exposedpages of the open signature assembly 220, illustrated as the leftmostpage 221A in FIG. 16, while the other exposed page 221B of the opensignature assembly 220 is perforated by lines of perforations 228, inthe manner explained for the first embodiment, to thereby define anaccess flap 230 thereon.

A compact disc assembly 232 of the type utilized in the first embodimenthaving a base portion, a compact disc 52 imposed thereon and an outerflexible covering encompassing both the disc and the base, is applied tothe releasable adhesive 222 on the one exposed page 221A. Anotherpattern of a permanent adhesive 234 is applied to either of the twoexposed pages 221A, 221B (shown as the one exposed page 221A in FIGS. 17& 18), and one of the portions of the open signature assembly 220 isfolded upon the other to entirely enclose the compact disc assembly 232and form a secure, disc-receiving pocket 226 of the completed signature.Preferably, because of the difference in weights of the two portions ofthe open signature assembly 220, the portion not containing the compactdisc assembly 232 is folded upon the other to form a completed signaturebooklet 240 which constitutes the folder 200. The forming of thedisc-receiving pocket 226 results in the loss of two pages of thecompleted signature booklet 240 for printing information thereon so thatin the embodiment illustrated, there are only ten pages available forprinting of the twelve-page web 204. The total available pages forprinting in any signature used to form the folders 200 of the inventionmay be found from the formula N-2, where N is the number of pages in theinitial signature web.

In order to facilitate this folding and in consideration of theadhesives 212, 216 used to assemble the open signature assembly 220, acenter scoreline formed by perforations 238 is made between the twoportions of the open signature assembly 220 so that the two sectionswill, in effect, break upon plow folding. The use of such a perforatedline 238 is optional dependent upon the type and weight of paper usedand the adhesive. Once folded and applied together, one marginal edge242 of the signature booklet 240 is slit to define a bursting, or tearstrip 243 and create an open edge 245 coincident with the marginal edge242 of the booklet 240. The strip 243 is removed or "burst" to exposethe page sections 205-210 of the folder 200. The open edge 245 and thehard edge 244 permits the signature booklet 240 to be opened in acustomary manner.

This embodiment is advantageous in that it permits the compact discassembly 232 to be packaged inside of a web 204 during production of thesignature that is easy to transfer and handle in printing, insertion andbinding machinery. A web press is automated and thus, the folders 200 ofthe present invention may be completed in a more efficient manner thanother prior art articles. The two embodiments may also be used as adirect mailer for the compact disc 52 with address information beingprinted on the rear panel of the folder 50 and on the front or rearpages of the signature booklet 240.

In inserting the folder 200 into a publication, it may be transferredinto place with other signatures and glued in place as illustrated inFIG. 2, or it may include, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a separate bindingstrip 250, known in the art as a Magna-craft strip, of a preselectedwidth that is glued with an adhesive 251 to the signature booklet nearits hard edge 244 for binding. Such a strip may include a perforatedline 255 as shown. A binding hanger strip 252 may also be used in itsplace for use in publications that are saddle-stitched.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An insert folder containing a compact disc for binding intoa publication, comprising: a web folded upon itself around a centralfoldline to define a four-sided disc folder, the foldline separating theweb into first and second panels of substantially equal size, thedisc-folder having top and bottom edges interconnected by two generallyparallel side edges, the first and second panels being joined togetherin overlying relationship by first adhesive means disposed between saidfirst and second panels along at least two of said four sides of saiddisc folder, said foldline and said first adhesive means cooperating todefine an interior compact disc-receiving pocket between said first andsecond panels, the insert folder further including a prepackaged compactdisc assembly, the compact disc assembly including a base, a compactdisc disposed upon said base and a protective packaging mediaencompassing said base sheet and said compact disc thereupon, saidcompact disc assembly being positioned in a predetermined location onsaid second panel within said disc-receiving pocket and spaced apartfrom said four edges of said disc folder and held in place thereon bysecond adhesive means, said foldline further defining a bindable edge ofsaid insert folder for binding into a publication without said first andsecond panels coming apart.
 2. The compact disc insert folder as definedin claim 1, further including a line of weakening formed in said firstand second panels and extending along one of said insert folder sideedges and spaced apart from said foldline to define a marginal bindingstrip at said one side edge, said marginal binding strip having a widthsufficiently large for binding said insert folder into a publicationwhile exposing said lines of weakening to a user, said insert folderbeing separable from said marginal binding strip along said lines ofweakening.
 3. The compact disc insert folder as defined in claim 1,wherein said compact disc assembly packaging media is a shrink-wrapplastic.
 4. The compact disc insert folder as defined in claim 1,wherein said web is formed from a cardstock and said first adhesivemeans is a permanent adhesive.
 5. The compact disc insert folder asdefined in claim 1, wherein said second adhesive means is a releasableadhesive.
 6. The compact disc insert folder as defined in claim 1,wherein first panel includes a circular opening disposed therein betweensaid four sides of said disc holder and in registration with saidcompact disc assembly to display a portion of said compact disc throughsaid first panel.
 7. The compact disc insert folder as defined in claim1, wherein said web is formed from an elongated sheet of paper, thepaper sheet including at least two additional folder panels definedthereon integrally attached to said first and second panels, said twoadditional panels underlying said first and second panels, said firstand second panels of said insert folder being disposed in the center ofsaid additional panels.
 8. The compact disc insert folder as defined inclaim 1, wherein said second panel includes a compact disc assemblyaccess flap formed in said second panel by lines of weakening alignedwith said compact disc assembly.
 9. The compact disc insert folder asdefined in claim 1, wherein said second panel includes a tearable accessflap for gaining access to said compact disc, said access flap beingdefined by at least first and second distinct lines of perforations andextending through said second panel and aligned with said compact discassembly such that said access flap is partially separable from saidsecond panel, said perforations of said second line of perforationsbeing finer than said perforations of said first line of perforations,said second panel further including a second foldline spaced apart fromsaid second line of perforations to define a hinge point around whichsaid access flap rotates, said second adhesive means being disposed onan interior surface of said access flap and retaining said compact discassembly on said second panel at least partially upon said access flap.10. A folder for enclosing a compact disc and suitable for binding intoa magazine, comprising:a single blank folded upon itself along a firstfoldline to provide two distinct panels hingedly interconnected to oneanother, a first of said two panels being folded upon and connected to asecond of said two panels, a hard binding edge of the folder beingformed by and coincident with the first foldline, a soft side edge ofthe folder being formed by two aligned, common edges of said two panelsand spaced apart from said folder hard binding edge, said first andsecond panels being connected together by a permanent adhesive along atleast said folder soft side edge to define a sealed folder with adisc-receiving pocket therebetween; a compact disc assembly held withinsaid disc-receiving pocket between said first and second panels, thecompact disc assembly including a planar base member, a compact discsupported on the base member and held thereon by an outer protectivecoating that completely envelops the compact disc upon said base member,said compact disc assembly being connected to said second panel by areleasable adhesive disposed in a predetermined orientation on saidfolder, said first panel having an opening formed therein inregistration with said compact disc that permits a substantial portionof said compact disc to be viewed from outside said folder; and, a firstline of perforations extending through said first and second panelsproximate to said first foldline that forms said folder hard bindingedge, said first perforated line defining, on one side of said firstperforated line, a binding strip of said folder near said folder hardedge, the first line of perforations defining on one side thereof, abody portion of said folder, and on the other side thereof, said bindingstrip, the body portion of said folder being manually separable fromsaid binding strip.
 11. The compact disc folder of claim 10, whereinsaid folder includes a flap defined in said second panel, the flappermitting access to said compact disc assembly from exterior saidfolder, said folder including second and third lines of perforationsdisposed in said second panel which define said flap and furtherincluding a second foldline disposed in said second panel in said bodyportion of said folder and generally parallel to said folder hard edge,the second foldline interconnecting said second lines of perforations todefine an axis about which said flap may be moved with respect to saidsecond panel.
 12. The compact disc folder of claim 10, wherein saidfolder first and second panels are connected along a fourth edgeextending between said first and second edges.
 13. A folder fordistributing a compact disc, comprising: a single web of cardstockfolded upon itself along a first foldline to provide distinct first andsecond panels hingedly interconnected to each other, the first panelbeing folded upon the second panel and glued thereto define a folderpocket; a compact disc assembly held within the folder pocket, thecompact disc assembly including a support, a compact disc disposed onone side of said support, a protective covering applied to both thecompact disc and said support, and entirely enclosing said compact discand support, said compact disc assembly being glued to said second panelto retain it entirely within said folder pocket; a tearable flap formedin said second panel for gaining access to folder pocket for removal ofsaid compact disc assembly therefrom; the flap having four sides, one ofsaid flap four sides being defined by a second foldline formed in saidsecond panel and spaced apart from said folder first foldline and theremainder of said flap four sides being defined by at least two lines ofperforations; and, a line of weakening spaced apart from said foldlineand extending through said first and second panels so as to define onone side of said line of weakening, a marginal tear strip having a widthsufficiently great for binding into a spine portion of a publication,and a body portion of said folder on the other side of said line ofweakening, the folder body portion enclosing said compact disc assemblyand being separable from said tear strip.
 14. A folder for containing acompact disc, comprising: first and second panels of substantially equalsize, the folder having top and bottom edges interconnected by twogenerally parallel side edges, the first and second panels being joinedtogether in overlying relationship at least by first adhesive meansdisposed between said first and second panels along at least two of saidfour edges of said folder, said first adhesive means at least partiallydefining an interior compact disc-receiving pocket between said firstand second panels, the insert folder further including a compact discassembly, the compact disc assembly including a compact disc enclosedwithin a protective packaging media, and said compact disc assemblybeing positioned in a predetermined location on said second panel withinsaid disc-receiving pocket and spaced apart from said top and bottomedges of said folder, one of said four edges of said folder furtherdefining a bindable edge of said folder for binding into a publicationwithout said first and second panels coming apart.
 15. The compact discfolder as defined in claim 14, wherein said first and second panels aredefined on a web folded upon itself.
 16. The compact disc folder asdefined in claim 14, further including a line of weakening spaced apartfrom and extending along one of said two side edges, the line ofweakening defining a marginal binding strip having a width sufficientlylarge for bending said folder into a publication while exposing saidline of weakening to a user, said folder being separable from saidmarginal binding strip along said line of weakening.
 17. The compactdisc folder as defined in claim 14, wherein one of said first and secondpanels includes at least two lines of weakening therein thatcooperatively define an access flap by which a user may gain access tosaid compact disc assembly.
 18. The compact disc folder as defined inclaim 17, wherein the other of said first and second panels includes anopening formed therein that exposes a portion of said compact disc toview.